DAY 60: Is Nunnelee’s Silence Just Proof that He Supports Privatizing Social Security?

Democrats highlighted state Senator and congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee’s (MS-01) continuing silence on whether he supports controversial plans to privatize Social Security. Democrats charged that Nunnelee continues to dodge the question – reaching its 60th day – because he may fear the political consequences of joining his Republican primary rivals in planning to gamble Social Security funds on Wall Street.

In an early April interview, state Senator and congressional candidate Nunnelee “did not offer any specific ideas when asked” about his support for the controversial privatization of Social Security and he previously “steered clear of the specifics” on a controversial Republican budget proposal that includes Social Security privatization in a local television interview 60 days ago.

“Alan Nunnelee continues to bob and weave his way around the issue rather than come clean about his support for privatizing Social Security,” said Jesse Ferguson, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “When you continue to dodge this issue for over two months, people rightly start to believe that you’re hiding stealth support for gambling Social Security funds on Wall Street. These are dangerous ideas and Alan Nunnelee needs to tell us if he’s hiding his support for the Bush-era plan backed by his primary opponents.”

Background

• 16 Days Ago – Nunnelee Still Silent. In early April, state Senator Nunnelee refused to answer an inquiry from the Daily Journal about his support for privatizing Social Security. Both of his primary opponents, Henry Ross and Angela McGlowan, have voiced support. [NEMS Daily Journal, 4/4/10]

• 60 Days Ago – Nunnelee Silent. On February 19, 2010, state Senator Nunnelee “steered clear of the specifics” when asked about the controversial GOP budget proposal that included Social Security privatization by a local television station. [WCBI, 2/19/10]

• House GOP Leader supports privatizing Social Security. In May 2001, now NRCC Chairman Representative Pete Sessions, co-signed a letter to the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security urging for privatization. The letter read, “Social Security reform must offer younger workers the opportunity to improve their rates of return using personal retirement accounts.” [Rep. Jim DeMint Letter to The Social Security Reform Commission, 5/24/01]

o Alan Nunnelee is a part of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s list of “Contenders” in their Young Gun candidate program. [NRCC]

• The plan, introduced by ranking Republican budget committee member, Representative Paul Ryan, returns to the Bush-era concept of privatizing Social Security in Wall Street accounts. [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/10/10] In 2005, President Bush went on a 60 stops in 60 days Social Security tour, following him outlining the details of his private account plan in his February State of the Union Address. [Washington Post, 4/27/05]